Health Links

Some illnesses are caused by the chemicals and conditions we expose ourselves to. Among the scariest diseases, however, are the contagious ones. While medical advances, improved hygiene, and sanitation have almost eliminated some "bugs," others are fighting back and developing strains resistant to our medicines. Infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites remind us that we must be ever watchful for outbreaks.

Try these Planet Diary Health Activities:

• Diseases Spread From Animals to People
  Take a look at how various infectious diseases can spread from animals to people.
• The Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke
  Examine the health risks linked to secondhand smoke and learn the science behind these risks.
• Mercury in the Environment
  Find out how mercury gets into the environment and the health problems it causes for humans and wildlife.
• Cellular Invaders
  Learn how the body's cells respond to cellular invaders such as bacteria.
• Preparing for a Trip
  Explore the different ways diseases are transmitted and why some diseases are more common in certain parts of the world.

Planet Diary provides fact sheets on these diseases:

• Dengue Fever
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Leprosy
• Malaria
• Meningitis
• Yellow Fever

World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO is the place to go to find out about important health issues affecting the planet's inhabitants.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This is a great starting point for the most up to the minute health information.

Diseases A to Z
An alphabetical listing of specific diseases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Travelers' Health
If you are planning a trip abroad, be sure to check the Geographic Health Recommendations for the area you are visiting. This page from the CDC has loads of information about endemic diseases and current outbreaks.

The Bad Bug Book
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has information on foodborne illnesses such as E. coli, Salmonella, and those caused by natural toxins.

The Why Files Health
This reader-friendly science magazine has lots of terrific articles on health and disease including:

• Antibiotic-Resistance
• Mad Cow
• Disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes and ticks.

West Nile Virus
Has West Nile Virus reached your state? Find out ways to avoid mosquito bites and keep mosquitoes from breeding.

Information Networks and Other Information Sources
The CDC provides links to a wide variety of health resources.

Communicable Disease Fact Sheets
The New York Department of Health has compiled an alphabetical list of fact sheets about the cause, transmission, and treatment of communicable diseases.